University of Michigan researchers surveyed adults in all 50 states and the District of Columbia about universal coverage for birth control, which is being challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court.

"There is an ongoing national debate about contraceptive coverage requirements in private health plans in the U.S.," study author Dr. Michelle Moniz, an obstetrician/gynecologist and researcher at the University of Michigan Medical School, said in a university news release.

"Our study found that 69 percent of U.S. adults support requiring coverage of birth control in health plans. This indicates that the majority view in the United States is that coverage for contraceptives should be required," she added.

The greatest support for this provision of the Affordable Care Act comes from women, blacks, Hispanics, adults with private or public insurance, and parents with children younger than 18 at home, according to the study, published April 22 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The researchers also asked survey participants their feelings about mandated coverage of other medical services. There were high levels of support for mandated coverage for mammograms and colonoscopies (85 percent), vaccinations (84 percent), screening tests for diabetes and high cholesterol (82 percent), mental health care (77 percent) and dental care (75 percent).

Less than 10 percent of respondents supported mandated coverage for all services except birth control. This group included a high percentage of men, people older than 60, and those without children in the home.

"In this study, women, blacks, and Hispanics were more likely to support coverage of birth control medications than were men, older individuals and adults without children in the home. In other words, support is higher among individuals who may be more likely to directly benefit from affordable birth control," said Moniz, a member of the university's Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

"This isn't only a women's health issue. It's an issue that is just as important to families and communities," she added. "Our findings suggest that a policy requiring all health insurance plans to cover birth control medications is consistent with the beliefs of the majority of Americans."

The Supreme Court is considering the arguments of business owners who say their religious beliefs protect them from a requirement in the new health care law that health insurance plans cover all forms of contraceptives.

More information

The U.S. Office on Women's Health has more about birth control (http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/birth-control-methods.html ).

-- Robert Preidt

SOURCE: University of Michigan, news release, April 22, 2014

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.